By the close in Dublin, the ISEQ Overall Index had added 2.52 points, or 0.07pc, to end the day at 3,499.95. Earlier, the ISEQ had continued to add to its four-year high, hitting 3,510 at one point before falling back.

The market swung between gains and losses for most of the day and despite the overall gain more stocks fell than rose.

In percentage terms, Bank of Ireland was the big winner, rising 7.6pc to close at 13c.

Financial institutions had a strong day across the continent a day after it was revealed that incoming rules on bank capital requirements, known as Basel III, are to be much looser than had been feared.

Permanent TSB surged 7.4pc to 3c.

Ryanair added 2.7pc to hit €5.10. The airline's rival EasyJet said it added more than two million passengers last year.

Aryzta continued its good run of late, adding 2pc to hit €40.75.

Despite Aryzta's gain, food stocks had a weak day in general. Kerry Group lost 2.4pc to close at €39.43, while C&C shed 2.6pc to close at €4.60. Glanbia lost 1.6pc to end at €8.34.

Elsewhere, European stocks retreated, after the Stoxx Europe 600 Index reached its highest valuation in almost three years, offsetting gains by lenders as central-bank governors diluted a proposed liquidity rule.

"It's another positive for the banking sector, which could be an important barometer for investors," said Daniel Bjork at Swisscanto Asset Management in Zurich. "The relaxation was more than what was expected, both with increasing the liquidity range and with the longer phasing-in period."